Clinical psychology

June 2015

The portfolio thesis consists of three parts: a systematic meta-synthesis, an empirical study, and appendices.

Part one is a meta-synthesis of hospital staffs’ relationships with people who self-harm.The review aimed to gain an insight in to staffs’ experiences of their interactions with people who self-harm, and how that may influence the delivery of care. Three main themes emerged from nine papers detailing experiences, and the influence of contextual factors on their interaction with people who self-harm. The themes were discussed in relation to theory, and the implications for clinical practice are described.

Part two is an empirical study exploring experiences of people who re-attend Accident and Emergency with self-harm. Six people were interviewed and the data was analysed through Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Three superordinate themes encompassed the experiences of peoples’ relationships with A&E, but also of additional support networks in times of crisis. Implications on the delivery of care for people in crisis are discussed.

Part three is an appendix that provides additional information for the meta-synthesis and the empirical study, as well an epistemological, reflexive and reflective statement.

Publisher

Department of Psychological Health and Wellbeing, The University of Hull